Kansas City, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern women's basketball team has been picked to finish tied for ninth with Lincoln in the coaches and thirteenth in the media MIAA preseason basketball polls, the league announced today.

The Lions return only two players and one starter from last year's squad that finished the year 8-18 overall, while going 4-16 in the MIAA. After qualifying for ten consecutive MIAA conference tournaments, the Lions will look to rebound and get back to their winning ways this season.

The lone senior on the squad for the Lions this year will be forward Erin Rice. A third-team All-MIAA performer last year, Rice started all 26 games while leading the team in scoring and rebounding with 14.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg. The other returner for the Lions will be junior guard Shatara Stone, who played in all 26 games averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg a year ago.

The Lions welcome in 11 newcomers to the lineup that includes three freshman, four junior college transfers and four four-year transfers. Junior center Shonte Clay, junior guard Samantha Soyez, sophomore center Bria Venson and sophomore guard Nicole Hartzog bring a combined six years of Division I or II college basketball experience with them to Southern.

Fans will get a chance to get their first look at the 2012-13 Lions this Thursday evening at Meet the Lions night at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The Lions have a pair of exhibition games hosting Livin' The Dream on Saturday at 1 pm and at the University of San Francisco on November 2. They open up the regular season at the Pitt State Tip Off Classic on November 9 against Mary (ND) University.